Kodinar clash: 12 sentenced to ten years rigorous imprisonment

Rajkot (Guj): Twelve persons, charged with rioting and attacking policemen in 2003 at Kodinar in Junagadh district during a communal clash, were sentenced to ten years rigorous imprisonment by a court.
Una Additional Sessions judge H B Rawal pronounced the judgement yesterday and slapped all the accused, including ten minority community members with a fine of Rs 7,000 each.
Besides, two years rigorous imprisonment was handed to them for assault and using criminal force against public servants and stopping them from discharging their duties, public prosecutor Mohan Gohel said.

The incident took place on November 13, 2003 when members of Hindu community gave a bandh call to protest police inaction on nabbing a person from the minority community who allegedly set afire a tailor`s shop a day before and had attacked a Ganesh pandal.

The problem began when shopkeepers of the minority community refused to join the bandh, leading to violent clashes between the two groups following which police lobbed tear gas shells and fired in air to disperse the mob.

Irked, the mob pelted stones and soda bottles, leaving three policemen injured during the clash. Ten accused were arrested from the spot and two later.